Best savings rates: General savings - online and branch 

By This Is Money
Updated: 05:55 EST, 1 September 2014

Why these are the web's best savings tables: they are completely independent and unique...

  • Accounts with catches are stripped out or shown separately
  • Compiled by savings expert Sylvia Morris (see below)
  • Unlike other web tables, providers do not have to pay to appear.

Other popular tables: Easy access| Fixed-rates| ISAs| Monthly income| Junior ISAs | 50+

ONLINE ACCOUNTS - easy access
Type of account (min investment)
0% tax 20% tax 40% tax
(1) Interest paid before tax but is taxable.
(2) You are limited to just two withdrawals year.
(3) Rate drops to 0.2 per cent after 12 months.
(4) You are limited to just three free withdrawals a year.
(5) Rate drops to 0.5 per cent after 12 months.
(6) Includes a 0.9 percentage point bonus for 12 months.
(7) Includes a 0.4 percentage point bonus payable for the first twelve months.
(8) You are limited to 5 free withdrawals a year. If you make more, you earn 0.5 per cent before tax for the remainder of the year.
(10) Plus an additional 0.1 per cent to Bobby Robson Foundation charity
(11) Includes a 0.5 percentage point bonus payable for the first year.
(12) Licensed to Bank of Ireland UK subsidiary - more explained here.
(13) Includes a 0.8 percentage point bonus for the first year.
(14) Includes a 0.60 percentage point bonus for 12 months.
(15) You are limited to six free withdrawals a year.
(16) Only available to those aged 60 or over.
(18) Including a 0.35 percentage point bonus for one year.
BONUS accounts- These accounts pay a bonus for the first 12 months or more. These are the rates including the bonus:
AA Internet Extra 16(£1,000) (6) 1.40 1.12 0.84
Tesco Bank Internet Saver(£1+) (14) 1.35 1.08 0.81
BM Savings Online Extra 13(£1,000+) (5) 1.35 1.08 0.81
Post Office Online Saver Issue 11(£1+) (7) 1.30 1.04 0.78
Santander eSaver Issue 11 1.00 0.80 0.60
Halifax Online Saver (£1+) (3) 0.90 0.72 0.54
Accounts WITHOUT bonus- These rates are not boosted by a temporary bonus that drops off after a year:
West Bromwich BS Websaver Limited Access(£1,000+)(4) 1.40 1.12 0.84
Sainsbury's Bank e-Saver(£1,000+) 1.35 1.08 0.81
Teachers BS Premier Saver(£3,000+)(2) 1.35 1.08 0.81
GE Capital Direct GE Saver Issue 6(£500+) 1.30 1.04 0.78
Virgin Money Easy Access E-Saver 12 1.30 1.04 0.78
National Savings & Investments Income Bonds(£1+)(1) 1.25 1.00 0.75
State Bank of India(£500+) 1.25 1.00 0.75
Kent Reliance Banking Services Easy Access 8(£1,000+) 1.25 1.00 0.75
Nationwide BS Limited Access Saver(£1+)(8) 1.25 1.00 0.75
Skipton eSaver Issue 2(£1+) 1.20 0.96 0.72
West Bromwich Websaver 2(£1,000+) 1.20 0.96 0.72
Sainsbury's Extra Saver(£1+) 1.20 0.96 0.72
National Savings & Investments Direct Saver(£1+) 1.10 0.88 0.66
Saffron BS e-Saver 10(£10+) 1.10 0.88 0.66
Principality e-Saver 11(£1+) 1.00 0.80 0.60
Aldermore Easy Access(£1,000+)Issue 9 1.00 0.80 0.60
Yorkshire BS Internet Saver(£1+) 1.00 0.80 0.60
Newcastle BS Bobby Robson Foundation 6(10) 1.00 0.80 0.60

Virgin Easy Access Issue 8(£1+)
BRANCH-BASED ACCOUNTS Instant access
Type of account (min investment) 0% tax 20% tax 40% tax
(1) Includes a 0.75 percentage point bonus for 12 months. Rates from June 30.
(2) Plus an additional 0.1 per cent to Bobby Robson Foundation Charity.
(3) You are limited to five withdrawals a year. If you make more you earn less interest for the remainder of the year.
(4) You are limited to 3 withdrawals a year. Rates from 14 July 2014.
(5)Open to those which children up to 18.
(7) Maximum four withdrawals a year.
(10) Only available to Nationwide's current account holders.
(12) You are limited to one withdrawal a month.
(13) Licensed to Bank of Ireland UK subsidiary - more explained here
(14) You are limited to three withdrawals a year. Only available to existing members or new members who live in the society's operating area.
(16) The maximum you can put in this account is £3,000. Only available to those living in the building society's operating area. Not available to existing members or those who have been members in the last six months.
BONUS accounts- These accounts pay a bonus for the first 12 months or more. These are the rates including the bonus:
West Bromwich BS Easy Saver Plus(£250+) 1.40 1.12 0.84
Post Office Instant Saver Issue 5(£500+)(8)(13) 1.00 0.80 0.60
Halifax Everyday Saver(£1+) (11) 0.75 0.60 0.45
Accounts WITHOUT bonus- These rates are not boosted by a temporary bonus that drops off after a year:
Newbury BS welcome to Newbury(£50+)(16) 1.65 1.32 0.99
Kent Reliance Branch Easy Access Issue 1(£1,000+) 1.50 1.20 0.90
Britannia Select Saver 6(£1+)(7) 1.40 1.12 0.84
Virgin Easy Access Saver 12(£1+) 1.30 1.04 0.78
Tipton BS Hallmark Access(£1,000+)(14) 1.30 1.04 0.78
Hinckley & Rugby BS Premier Saver 2(+£500) (12) 1.25 1.00 0.75
Kent Reliance Banking Services Easy Access 8(£1,000+) 1.25 1.00 0.75
Nationwide BS Limited Access Saver Issue 2(£1+)(3) 1.20 0.96 0.72
Nationwide Flexclusive 6 (£1,000+)(10) 1.20 0.96 0.72
Chelsea BS Triple Access Saver (£100+)(4) 1.20 0.96 0.72
Barnsley BS Triple Access Saver(£100+)(4) 1.20 0.96 0.72
Yorkshire BS Triple Access Saver(£100+) (4) 1.20 0.96 0.72
Norwich & Peterborough Family Easy Access(£1+) (5) 1.00 0.80 0.60
Skipton My Savings Issue 3(£1+) 1.00 0.80 0.60
Metro Bank Instant Access Savings(£1+) 1.00 0.80 0.60
Newcastle BS Bobby Robson Foundation 6(2) 1.00 0.80 0.60
Scottish BS Instant Access(£100+) 1.00 0.80 0.60

All our best savings rates tables... 

General savings (internet, branch-based)
Fixed-rate accounts
Phone/postal accounts
Best cash Isas
Junior Isas and children's savings accounts
Child Trust Funds (CTFs)
National Savings
Monthly income savings accounts
Offshore accounts
Accounts for older savers (50+)

ALSO: Premium Bonds winning numbers table


Dear Reader,

These tables are unique on the web. They are independent and providers are not forced to pay to appear, which is typically the case at big comparison sites.

Sylvia Morris

Sylvia Morris

They are completely unbiased - we simply show the best rates around and don't do 'featured deals'.

We've gone a step further, too. To feature in the best buys on variable rate accounts in our savings tables, an account must give you easy access to your money and come with no hidden catches.

In the past we have refused to include accounts where the rate is boosted by a short-term bonus or those with over-restrictive conditions so you only earn the advertised rate if you make three or less withdrawals a year.

But with interest rates so low, most of today's best deals have some sort of clause built in, whether that's a bonus or a restriction on withdrawals.

For that reason, we've included decent bonuses as long as they last for at least 12 months. This is to avoid you having to switch your account too often when short-term bonuses run out.

If there is a restriction on withdrawals we have made this clear in the notes on each account.

We also ignore old-style 'notice' accounts where the bank or building society can demand you give up to six months' notice that you want to take our money out while it can change the rate at any time without warning.

All banks and building societies are registered with the Financial Services Authority and signed up to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, either directly (protecting up to £85,000) or via its passport scheme (where the compensation limit depends on the bank's home country. In Europe it is €100,000).

Sylvia Morris, This is Money savings tables expert

If you have a question about the tables email sy.morris@dailymail.co.uk and editor@thisismoney.co.uk

Loopholes to exploit and dangers to avoid: sign up to our newsletter

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.